Cigarette turning device



J1me 1953 D. ANTONELLl CIGARETTE TURNING DEVICE Filed D80. 30, 1955 FIG.5

INVENTOR DINO ANTONELLI ATTORNEY 1 States Patent .flz,s40,220 CIGARETT ETURNING DEVICE I Dino Antonelli, Richmond, Va.,' assignor to American Machine & Foundry Companyfacorporation of New Jersey Application December so, 1955', Serial No. 556,552

, 13 Claims. (Cl..198.-32)

"This invention relates to cigarette making, and more particularly ;to a'device and'm'ethod for turning cigarettes received by'a collector fin "a'cigarette machine so 'as to cause the' 'tip ends of' all cigarettes to face in the same direction. j i

In the process of manufacturing filter tip cigarettes and cork tip cigarettes, thecut tippedcigarettes are discigarette wrapping i'n'achine. F

Various mechanical devices have been devised for turning cigarettes, "Some-of thesedevic'es have been found 'expe nsivetojconst'ructwhile others handle the. cigarettes roughly that the cigarettes have undesir able indenta'tio ris formed thereon by the: turning device. "It is ob'ct to provide 'afsimple; device which will turn tipped clgarettes'facing in'one direction to face in another dire'ctio'n which doesnot' have any impacting elements'fcontactirigihecigarettes} f A further objf' t of invention is to provide a cigarette tur'nin'g device which will avoid having the cigarett'e' cdntact"any impac ing element to effect a turning of the cigarette. I i

I A further object is to provide a simple and reliable devic'efoi timing tipped cigarettes soythat te tip ends willfbe fa'cin'ginth direction desired; t 7 Other objects a features-of 'the invention will appear as the desefip'tionbf the particular physicalrnbodimer'it'sjelectedd'o illustrate' the inventionp'rjogressesn In the accompanying"drawingsfwhich form a partof' this specification, likecharacter's 'of reference'have been applied to corresponding parts throughoutthe several views whichtmake up the drawings. j Fig 1' is an isomet1ic view of'-the"cigaiette turner.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the cigarette turner.

IFig. 3 is a side view ofthe' 'ci'garette turner.

Fig. 4"is a top v'iew of-sthe cigarette turner.

Figg-Ssis a modified form of my invention shown in a rotarymen'tberifor causing cigarettesto' be turned endfor-end. T I: I: t

Figk6 isadetailed side elevation-of 'the 'turning wheel structure shownin Fig.:5. t Y V 4 My apparatus is particularly wellsuited-for use with a cigarettezm achine makingeitheffiltentipped cigarettes or cork tipped cigarettes .wherein the cut, tippedcigarette lengths are discharged-laterally in the manner shown in co-pending application Serial--' No. 509,293

filedby George Dearsley-on' May 18, 1955, and in U. S. Patent:ZReissue;;19,375 granted November 20, 1934', to W;- B -Bronanderfi -The tipp ed cigarettes so discharged are then advanced :by a-collecting conveyor-belt 10 in two ice rows wherein the tipped ends of one row of cigarettes face in a direction opposite to the direction of the other row of; tipped cigarettes. In using the term. tipped cigarettes it is intended to include within its meaning either cork tipped, filter tipped, or; hollow mouthpiece cigarettes, any of which may be readily usedwith this invention.

As these tipped cigarettes are forwarded in the direction indicated by the arrow on collector belt 10, in Fig. 1, they are deposited onto an inclined platform 12 where the cigarettes rolldownwardly until the tip ends thereof engage with the abutment 14. Their engagement with this abutment 14 retardsthe two adjoining ends of the cigarette engaging therewith, while the opposite ends of these cigarettes are free to slide down the chutes 16 and18. 1

By the time these opposite ends of the cigarette slide down the chutes-16 and 18 .t hey, will have been turned around 90,degrees, whereupon the retarded end of the cigarette is able to fall free of the abutment 14 under the action of gravity." T'hese falling cigarettes, falling downwardly through'cutrout sections 15 and 17 are deposited on-the transverse collecting belt 25 which travels. in the direction indicatedby the arrow.

The sides of thefcollecting belt may be enclosed by suitable side walls 20, 2 2.a Since both cigarettes have been turned in oppositedirections, all the cigarettes will be lined up with their tipped ends facing in the same direction on the second collecting belt 25. The second collecting belt, .travelingovera suitable pulley 24, advances the cigarettes to a collecting tray where theyare stackedfmanually"or automatically. p

In 't'he'm'odi fied form of my -invention shown in Fig. 5, I have illustrated a rotary rnember 26 engaging with the ends of the cigarettes facing each other to assist in effecting quick 90. degree turn-around of the tipped cigarette. as the oppositeends slide down the inclined guideways 28 and :30 so that when the cigarette is ready to fall over the edges-3:2.andv 34 they will have been turned around degrees. The cigarettes so turned around are collected on the conveyor 25 with the tip ends all facingin thesame direction ina single row.

While I have shownin the drawings a single retarding element engaginglwithithe tipped ends facing each other of each row of cigarettes, itwill be appreciated that a pair of abutting elements could be employed engaging the opposite ends of thecigarettes in each row in lieu of a single. abutting element. In this case, the cut outportions of the. declining plates wouldvbe formed'adjacent each abutting element.-. I r

Similarly instead, of using ,a pair of declining plates 16 and 18, a singledeclining plate could likewise be ernployed with cut out portionsformed adjacent each abutting element. '1

turning apparatus,[ it is economical to construct, andyet reliable in operation because of the lackof impacting elements which can malfunction.

The invention hereinabove described may be varied in construction within thescope ofthe claims, for the par-. ticular device selected toillustrate the invention is ;but

one of many possible-embodiments of the same. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described.- 1

'What'is claimed is:

1. 'A device for turning tipped cigarettes so that all the tip ends will face in the direction desired comprising a conveyor for delivering two rows of cigarettes having the tip ends of the cigarettes in each row facing in opposite directions, to a cigarette turning station, an abutment positioned to be engaged by one of the ends of the cigarettes in each row and be retarded thereby, an inclined chute for directing and allowing the opposite ends of eachcigarette to slide down the chute, and in so doing simultaneously eifect'the turning of cach cigarette in each row inopposite directions to effect the turning of the cigarette to the desired direction.

2. A cigarette turning device comprising a conveyor for supporting and advancing two rows of cigarettes wherein the tipped ends ofthe cigarettes in each row face in opposite directions, an abutment positioned at the middle of the discharge end of said conveyor to engage that portion of the cigarettes ofeach row which immediately face each other, chutes provided at the discharge end of each row of cigarettes; to allow the opposite ends of said cigarettes ,to slide down the chute. to thereby effect a 90 degree turning of said cigarettes as it slides down the chute freeing itself fromthe abutment.

3. A cigarette turning device comprising a conveyor for moving two rows of tipped cigarettes along a predetermined pathwherein'the cigarettes of each row have the tipped ends thereof facing in opposite directions, an abutment positioned in the path of the ends ofthe cigarette of each rowwhich face each other, an inclined chute positioned at the endof' said conveyor for causing the opposite-ends of said cigarette ofeach row to slide down and in sodoing effect a 90 degree turn of the cigarette, and a collecting conveyor positionedunder said inclined chute for receiving the cigarettes which have been turned in this way so that all of the tipped ends are facing in the same direction on the collecting conveyor.

4. A cigarette turning device comprising a collecting belt for receiving and advancing two rows of tipped cigarettes laterallywherein the cigarettesof each row have the tips thereof facing in the same direction, stationary means for retarding the ends of the cigarette facing each other while allowing the opposite, ends t'o'continue their forward movement, thereby causing the cigarettes topivot so that the axis of" the cigarette willbe substantially transverse to its axis before engaging with said stationary means, and a -collecting conveyor onto which said cigarettes drop when they have been turned 90 degrees so as to advance said collected cigarettes sidewise with all of the tips facing in the same direction.

5. A cigarette turning device comprising a conveyor lowing the cigarettes to fall downwardly by the force of gravity after they have been turned by sliding down said chute a predetermined distance, to thereby collect said cigarettes on a second collecting belt, so that all the tip ends face in thesame direction.

8. A cigarette turning device comprising a conveyor for delivering two rows of cigarettes having the cigarettes of each row facing in the opposite direction to a turning station, means for detaining one end of the cigarettes of each row against movement while allowing the opposite end of each detained cigarette to pivot about the detained end of the cigarette, means for'allowing the detained end of said cigarette to fall free from said detaining means when the cigarette has been turned a predetermined distance, anda collecting conveyor for receiving said detained cigarettes when they have become disengaged from said detaining means to accumulate said detained cigarettes so that the tipped ends all face in the same direction.

9. A device for turning cigarettes comprising a conveyor belt for advancing two rows of cigarettes to a turnfor advancing two adjacent rows of cigarettes laterally wherein the cigarettes in said rows have the tip ends thereof facing in opposite directions, stop means for engaging the same ends of the cigarettes so, as to retard these ends while allowing the "opposite ends of the cigarettes to continue movement, means for facilitating the movement of the opposite ends of the cigarettes to cause the cigarettes so engaged to turn 90' degrees, and a common collecting member for receiving the cigarettes after they have been so turned and supporting the same sothat all of the tip ends face in'the same direction.

6. A- cigarette turning device for successively turning tipped cigarettes in two rows so that all of the cigarettes will have their tip ends facing in the same direction comprising means for forwarding cigarettes in each of said rows successively to a turningstation, pivot means positioned to be engagedby one end of the cigarette to;hold itsubstantially stationary, means provided for causing the free end of the cigarette to be pivoted around the retarded end and means for collecting said turned around cigarettes whenthe tipped ends of said cigarettes have been caused to face in the ,samej direction. 7'

7. A cigarette turningddevice comprising conveyor belt for receiving pairs of cigarettes, in two-rowswherein the tip ends of the cigarettes in each r'owface in" opposite directions, a pair of inclined chutes along which cigarettes can slide downwardly, a stoppositioned to engage ing station, means for temporarily restraining one end of the cigarette of each row while allowing the other end to pivot about the restrained end, means allowing said cigarettes to fall downwardly when they have moved a predetermined distance around said pivot, and a collecting conveyor for receiving said cigarettes when they fall so that all of said collected cigarettes will have the tip ends facing in the same direction. r

10. A cigaretteturning device comprising a pair of declining plates having a cut out portion formed therebetween through which turned tipped cigarettes can drop, a collecting belt for receiving turned cigarettes falling through said cutout portion in side by side relationship, means for delivering tipped cigarette lengths arranged side by side in rows so that the tip ends of, the cigarettes in each'row face in opposite directions to said declining plates, means positioned in the pathqof each of said rows of cigarettes to engage with one end of the cigarettes ineach row to retard the ends-so engaged temporarily while allowing the other end of each of saidcigarettes to slide down said declining plates, thereby causing the cigarettes to be turned degrees before falling through said cut out portion, and a collector for receivingsaid turned cigarettes in side by side relationship with all of the tip ends facing in the same direction. x

11. A cigarette turning device comprising a conveyor mechanism for advancing two rows of cigarettes having the cigarettes in each row transversely arranged with respect to their directionof movement and wherein the tip ends of the cigarettes in each row ,face in opposite directions, a declining plate for receiving cigarettes from said mechanism, said plate havinga cut out opening through which cigarettes discharged therethrough can fall, means positioned in the path of travel of said cigarettes to engage with one. end of the-cigarettes in each row to cause said end to be temporarily restrained while enabling the opposite end of each restrained cigarette to slide down-over .said declinin'gplate to pivot about said restraining means'so as to cause the cigarette to turn 90 degrees before falling through said cut out opening, a collector positioned under said out out opening to collect cigarettes falling therethrough inside by side relation ship wherein all tipped endsof the cigarettes face in the same direction.

1.2. A cigarette, turning .device comprisinga conveyor, a pair of declining plates connecting with the delivery end of said conveyor belt for receiving. transversely arranged cigarettes discharged fromrsaidconveyor;belt, a

restraining device engaging with one end of the cigarettes in each row to temporarily restrain movement of that end of the cigarette to cause the cigarette to pivot about said device when sliding down said declining plate to cause the axial length of the cigarettes to be turned approximately 90 degrees before falling through said cut out opening, a cigarette collector under said cut out opening to receive cigarettes in side by side arrangement falling through said cut out opening so that all of the cigarettes will be collected side by side with their tip ends all facing in the same direction.

13. A cigarette turning device comprising a source of cigarettes arranged side by side in row formation which are advanced in a direction transverse to their axial lengths, means positioned to engage with the ends of the cigarettes in each row as they are advanced from said source, a pair of declining plates positioned adjacent said means and having a cut out portion formed adia- 6 cent said means through which cigarettes can drop, said means acting to engage and temporarily hold back one end of the cigarettes in each row as they come in contact with said means, while causing the other end of the cig-' arette to pivot about the means engaging with the ends of said cigarette to cause the cigarettes to turn 90 degrees References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Montgomery June 4, 1912 Wheeley May 30, 1950 

